Chapman County Codes: Wales

Index:

Introduction

The two following tables provide basic information about the major administrative regions of Wales. There are different systems of administration in the UK, and the administrative units bear different names: county, region, and district. In addition, large-scale reorganisations of local authorities occurred in the early and mid 1970s, resulting in new counties, the "disappearance" of old counties, adjustments to county boundaries, and so on. For many family history purposes, it is the "old" administrative regions which are relevant. However, a knowledge of the present arrangements is also needed, so that the records you need can be found.

Also, these are administrative regions, whereas for many purposes the old counties continue to have an existence, at least in the minds of people who disagreed with the changes.

The tables include the following information:

  1. full name of region;
  2. a recognised abbreviation of the full name;
  3. the Chapman County Code (CCC). This is a unique three-letter code identifying the region, and used extensively by family historians when recording and exchanging place information;
  4. the administrative centre of the modern region;
  5. notes, shown as 1 2 3 etc.

Following legislation passed in 1972, and the report of the Local Government Boundaries Commission, new county names and boundaries came into effect in Wales from 1st April 1974.

Table 1: Counties (before April 1974)

County Abbreviation CCC
Anglesey 1 n\a AGY
Breconshire 2 n\a BRE
Caernarvonshire n\a CAE
Cardiganshire Cards CGN
Carmarthenshire n\a CMN
Denbighshire n\a DEN
Flintshire n\a FLN
Glamorgan Glam GLA
Merionethshire n\a MER
Monmouthshire Mon MON
Montgomeryshire Mont MGY
Pembrokeshire n\a PEM
Radnorshire n\a RAD

Table 2: Counties (after April 1974)

County CCC Administrative Centre
Clwyd CWD Mold
Dyfed DFD Carmarthen
Gwent GNT Cwmbran
Gwynedd 1 GWN Caernarfon
Mid Glamorgan MGM Swansea
Powys POW Llandrindod Wells
South Glamorgan SGM Swansea
West Glamorgan WGM Swansea

Notes

  1. In April 1974, the island of Anglesey became part of Gwynedd.
  2. Also known as "Brecknockshire".

County and Unitary Authority Boundaries after April 1996